Particular Correlated Head Characteristic Patents (Class 473/290)
  • Patent number: 7415867
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, this method encompasses a shaft with a neutral flex point mark and identification mark/sticker of quantitative characteristics that has been achieved by deflecting a shaft, at its tip, a specific distance while resting in a free floating position. Shafts are then sorted by the quantitative measurement of its propensity to bend(flex weight) into sets of shafts to be assembled into golf clubs by aligning the neutral flex point mark on the golf shaft to the neutral point mark on a golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Inventors: David Patrick Spencer, David Bryant Bechtel
  • Publication number: 20080188322
    Abstract: A golf club having a hollow golf club head which is filled with a gas under pressure. The interior surface of the golf club head is coated with a solidified layer of plastic material. The pressurized gas permits the use of thinner face plates by compensating for forces generated when the face plate strikes a golf ball. The plastic layer is preferably applied through the process of rotational molding using a thermoplastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Donald A. Anderson, Babek Khamenian, Alden J. Blowers
  • Publication number: 20080182680
    Abstract: An improved golf club head design for irons is presented which provides a carburized tungsten alloy insert in the club face. The carburized tungsten alloy insert improves the club's center of gravity and center of mass characteristics and presents a harder surface to the golf ball, improving club face longevity. There are also improved rebound characteristics seen with the use of a carburized tungsten alloy club face insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventor: Richard De La Cruz
  • Patent number: 7396290
    Abstract: A set of iron-type golf clubs includes long irons with cavity back configurations and short irons with muscle back configurations. The rear face configurations slowly transition from pure cavity back through cavity-muscle backs to pure muscle backs for increased performance continuum for the set. Additional design parameters for the set may also be systematically varied through the set, such as face area, loft angle, offset and location of the center of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Bruce R. Pettibone, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Publication number: 20080161122
    Abstract: A putter-type golf club comprising an alignment system and a club head assembly. The putter-type club head has a body that is preferably composed of aluminium, with a rear weight disc and small inserts composed of a material denser than the material used for the remainder of the club head (excluding inserts in the “wings” on the club head and/or the neck of the club). The body has an alignment channel that is approximately the same width as a standard golf ball, and which runs from the face to the rear of the club head. In a preferred embodiment this alignment channel is black or dark in colour with a white or light-coloured border. The putter-type club has a neck that is inserted laterally through the side of the club head, such that it runs parallel to the face of the club head and for substantially the length of the face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Ashley Smith, Simon Chan
  • Publication number: 20080058113
    Abstract: A set of at least three iron-type golf club heads where each golf club head includes a forward wall having a front surface arranged for impacting a golf ball, a back surface disposed generally parallel to the front surface and a thickness dimension measured between the front and back surfaces. A rearward wall is spaced from the forward wall, and a pocket is defined between the back surface of the forward wall and an inner surface of the rearward wall. A weight member is disposed in the pocket. The forward wall thickness dimension of a first golf club head with a medium loft angle such as a six iron is greater than the forward wall thickness dimension of a second golf club head with a low loft angle such as a three iron but less than the forward wall thickness dimension of a third golf club head with a high loft angle such as a nine iron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Nicolette, Marty R. Jertson, Bradley D. Schweigert
  • Publication number: 20080051210
    Abstract: At least three clubs of a set of golf clubs may have an average volume between about 75 cm3 and about 90 cm3. The transverse dimensions of the at least three clubs may progressively decrease from a highest volume club to a lowest volume club. At least one club of a set may include a constraining member in a cavity. A linear distance between a sweet spot and a center of gravity may progressively decrease from a lower lofted club to a higher lofted club within a set. At least one golf club of a set may include a face plate portion, and at least two golf clubs of the set may include a cup face portion. At least two clubs of a set may include a progressively increasing hosel length from a lowest lofted club to a highest lofted club. The strike face of at least one club of a set may include a bulge and a roll. A first club of a set may have a face thickness that is less than a face thickness of a second club of the set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: ROGER CLEVELAND GOLF CO., INC.
    Inventors: Sharon J. Park, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Daniel J. Stone, Brad S. Hooley, Robert J. Horacek, Sam G. Lacey, Kevin Schaeffer, Craig R. Schnell, Douglas E. Roberts, Jimmy H. Kuan, John J. Rae, Dan S. Nivanh
  • Publication number: 20070293339
    Abstract: A set of iron clubs where each club in the set has the same or substantially the same ground roll. The set is produced by adjusting at least two club design characteristics of the clubs based upon measured or assumed player swing data. The design characteristics of the clubs include club length, static clubhead loft, location of the center of gravity, shaft flexibility, and groove volume. Preferably, club length and static clubhead loft are adjusted for coarse adjustments, while the other characteristics are used to fine-tune the design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Peter J. Gilbert, Charles E. Golden, David A. Shear
  • Patent number: 7275999
    Abstract: The invention includes a golf club iron head, correlated sets of individually numbered golf club irons, methods of matching a golf club to a golfer, and methods of matching a set of golf clubs to a golfer. In one implementation, a golf club iron head includes a front striking face, a sole, a toe, and a heel. The front striking face has a series of grooves of a common cross sectional shape from the top to the bottom. Individual grooves have a base and opposing sidewalls which diverge from the base and extend outwardly in the direction of the front striking face. The sidewalls include opposing protrusions extending into the groove proximate the front striking face. In one implementation, the front striking face of a golf club iron head defines a symmetrical groove cross section. The groove base comprises a protrusion extending in the direction of the front striking face. The base protrusion has an apex received inwardly of the front striking face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: U.I.G., Inc.
    Inventor: Brad L. Sherwood
  • Patent number: 7273418
    Abstract: A set of iron-type golf clubs includes long irons with channel back configurations and short irons with cavity back configurations. The rear face configurations transition from channel backs through to pure cavity backs for increased performance continuum for the set. Additional design parameters for the set may also be systematically varied through the set, such as groove type and depth, loft angle, cavity volume, hitting face roughness, and sole width. At least one of the clubs of the set includes a sandwich-type construction for the hitting face having a dampening element disposed between a hitting face insert and a lightweight reinforcing core. In one embodiment, at least one club head is oversized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Bruce R. Pettibone, Michael Scott Burnett, Christopher R. Kays, Tomas Diaz
  • Patent number: 7232377
    Abstract: A set of iron-type golf clubs includes long irons with channel back configurations and short irons with cavity back configurations. The rear face configurations transition from channel backs through to pure cavity backs for increased performance continuum for the set. Additional design parameters for the set may also be systematically varied through the set, such as groove type and depth, loft angle, cavity volume, hitting face roughness, and sole width. At least one of the clubs of the set includes a sandwich-type construction for the hitting face having a dampening element disposed between a hitting face insert and a lightweight reinforcing core. In one embodiment, at least one club head is oversized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Bruce R. Pettibone, Michael Scott Burnett, Christopher R. Kays, Tomas Diaz
  • Patent number: 7192361
    Abstract: A set of iron-type golf clubs includes long irons with channel back configurations and short irons with cavity back configurations. The rear face configurations transition from channel backs through to pure cavity backs for increased performance continuum for the set. Additional design parameters for the set may also be systematically varied through the set, such as groove type and depth, loft angle, cavity volume, hitting face roughness, and sole width. At least one of the clubs of the set includes a sandwich-type construction for the hitting face having a dampening element disposed between a hitting face insert and a lightweight reinforcing core. In one embodiment, at least one club head is oversized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Bruce R. Pettibone, Michael Scott Burnett, Christopher R. Kays, Tomas Diaz
  • Patent number: 7186187
    Abstract: A set of iron-type golf clubs includes long irons with cavity back configurations and short irons with muscle back configurations. The rear face configurations slowly transition from pure cavity back through cavity-muscle backs to pure muscle backs for increased performance continuum for the set. Additional design parameters for the set may also be systematically varied through the set, such as face area, loft angle, offset and location of the center of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Bruce R. Pettibone, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Patent number: 7186188
    Abstract: A set of iron-type golf clubs includes long irons with channel back configurations and short irons with cavity back configurations. The rear face configurations transition from channel backs through to pure cavity backs for increased performance continuum for the set. Additional design parameters for the set may also be systematically varied through the set, such as groove type and depth, loft angle, cavity volume, hitting face roughness, and sole width. At least one of the clubs of the set includes a sandwich-type construction for the hitting face having a dampening element disposed between a hitting face insert and a lightweight reinforcing core. In one embodiment, at least one club head is oversized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Bruce R. Pettibone, Michael Scott Burnett, Christopher R. Kays, Tomas Diaz
  • Patent number: 7169057
    Abstract: An iron golf club head having a hollow interior. The iron golf club head is formed from a first casing and a second casing. The first casing includes the hosel and strike face, while the second casing includes the sole, the back side, and the topline of the iron golf club head. The second casing also includes two cavities, one of which forms the hollow interior of the iron golf club head when the first casing is welded to the second casing. The thickness and hardness of the first casing vary between the long and short iron golf club heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: MacGregor Golf Company
    Inventors: David A. Wood, James A. Bode
  • Patent number: 7153222
    Abstract: Forged cavity back iron-type clubs and oversize clubs are disclosed. These forged clubs have thin, durable hitting face and relatively large cavity volumes. These clubs have high rotational moments of inertia to minimize distance and accuracy penalties associated with off-center hits. Long irons with hitting face of about 0.100 inch thick are achievable by the present invention. Also disclosed are forged irons made from stainless steels and annealed to achieve the desired hardness and ductility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Michael S. Burnett
  • Patent number: 7153219
    Abstract: An iron type golf club head includes a primary club head body composed of metal. The primary club head body includes a striking face and a facing wall opposite the striking face. The club head also includes a polymeric body secured to the facing wall of the primary club head body, wherein the polymeric body is secured opposite the striking face of the primary club head body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Adams Golf IP, L.P.
    Inventors: Tim Reed, Michael Vrska, Oliver G. Brewer, III
  • Patent number: 7147570
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for effectively guiding golfers and/or their fitting professionals toward the selection of a particular wood-type golf club that is optimally matched or fitted to each golfer's particular swing characteristics, the selection being made from a set of golf clubs having at least three different head sizes and being made based on one or more swing characteristics for the golfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Toulon, Gary Gallagher, A. J. Bonar, Jose Miraflor, David Anderson, Benoit Vincent, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Patent number: 7137903
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a set of golf club irons in which some of the club heads have a hollow space, and some of the club heads do not have a hollow space. The hollow space is preferably defined by a lower portion of the front face, a portion of the sole, and a rear wall. The presence of the hollow space moves the club head center of gravity back (away from the face) and down (toward the sole), making it easier to get a golf ball airborne. The volumes of the hollow spaces generally transition or get progressively smaller with an increase in the club loft angle, thus altering the center of gravity location and moments of inertia by different amounts for different clubs. The hollow spaces may be empty or filled, in whole or part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Christopher B. Best, Ryan L. Roach
  • Patent number: 7118491
    Abstract: A new Golf Club Head design, as compared to the previous art, Cylindrical in shape, with a larger more concentrated Circular face that has Circular Grooves, with a Convex back, with no Heel and Toe, has a sole plate that wraps around the convex back up to the half mark on both sides of the wooden golf club head, and a unique Neck, Hosel Tube Neck and Shaft ‘placement’ that abuts the approximate Center on the outside at right angles to the golf club head. And this new design incorporates a multifaceted hand grip for the club shaft. This Cylindrical shape head will permit the club head to be always soled and as such, the golf club will not fall backwards as the prior art does without the shaft being held firmly by the golfer. And, so, with this new multifaceted hand grip design, the golfer would not have to hold onto the club shaft any tighter in order to prevent the golf club from twisting, in his/her hands, at impact with the golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Inventor: Raphael Rado Mootoo
  • Patent number: 7014568
    Abstract: A set of golf club wedges each having a club face (10) is disclosed wherein the lofts of the individual clubs progressively increases. The hitting surface of each club head may take the form of an insert (12) that includes a series of grooves, the design of which is varied from club to club to provide increasing friction with loft. As a result, a golfer can impart the same amount of spin to a golf ball with each of the wedges despite a substantial difference in loft and club head swing speed between the respective clubs. In addition, the surface roughness of the hitting surface may also be increased as loft increases to further control the spin imparted to the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventor: David Pelz
  • Patent number: 6979270
    Abstract: An improved line of golf clubs tailored to the golfer. The face wall firstly is designed so that the face wall modulus of elasticity increases from a low modulus for the low swing speed range to progressively higher modula for the higher swing speed ranges. Face modulus can be altered by a variety of techniques including face wall thinning, material selection and heat treatment or a combination thereof. In each of the swing speed range clubs, the face has a first modulus of elasticity determined by the face itself and after the face deflects to a predetermined value, the face modulus is significantly increased by a secondary wall parallel to and closely spaced behind the face wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Inventor: Dillis V. Allen
  • Patent number: 6875124
    Abstract: An iron golf club head having a thin (less than 0.12 inches) first section that has an expanded unsupported front face region. The first section including a central portion forming part of a leading edge and wrapping around a sole section of the club, to create an increase the coefficient of restitution of the club head to greater than 0.8. The club head utilizes a rear insert that in addition to providing support for the front face, also allows for the fine tuning of swing weights with no change in geometry or size of the club head. This is accomplished this by the utilization of weight adjustment inserts that impregnate tungsten loaded plastic into sheets of carbon graphite and epoxy. The percentage of tungsten creating a weight range without any size change in the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Michael Scott Burnett
  • Patent number: 6863621
    Abstract: In one aspect, a correlated set of individually numbered golf club iron heads progresses from a high numbered head to a low numbered head. Individual heads have a front striking face, a rear face, a sole, a toe, a heel and a hosel. The front striking faces of heads within the set individually have a total planar area defining a progressively decreasing loft angle in going from the high numbered head to the low numbered head. For at least two chosen pairs of heads within the set, the striking face total planar area of individual heads within each chosen pair increases in size in going from the higher numbered head to the lower numbered head in the pair. In another aspect, a correlated set of individually numbered golf club iron heads comprises at least a 3-iron head, a 4-iron head and a 5-iron head. The hosel is provided relative to the sole to provide a different and increasing lie angle in sequentially progressing from the 3-iron head to the 5-iron head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: U.I.G., Inc.
    Inventor: Brad L. Sherwood
  • Patent number: 6849005
    Abstract: An iron type golf club head having a rear surface having upper and lower portions; the upper portion being defined by a blade type iron structure between a top ridge surface and the lower portion; and a lower peripheral weight on the lower portion of the rear surface forming a rear cavity between the bottom sole surface the said upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Inventor: Guerin DuBose Rife
  • Publication number: 20040259657
    Abstract: A golf teaching technique is enclosed, in addition to golf equipment for teaching and recreation. The equipment includes golf clubs, balls, and targets, and also includes a method for teaching students how to properly use these items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Heller, Kristen Heller
  • Publication number: 20040259658
    Abstract: In one aspect, a correlated set of individually numbered golf club iron heads progresses from a high numbered head to a low numbered head. Individual heads have a front striking face, a rear face, a sole, a toe, a heel and a hosel. The front striking faces of heads within the set individually have a total planar area defining a progressively decreasing loft angle in going from the high numbered head to the low numbered head. For at least two chosen pairs of heads within the set, the striking face total planar area of individual heads within each chosen pair increases in size in going from the higher numbered head to the lower numbered head in the pair. In another aspect, a correlated set of individually numbered golf club iron heads comprises at least a 3-iron head, a 4-iron head and a 5-iron head. The hosel is provided relative to the sole to provide a different and increasing lie angle in sequentially progressing from the 3-iron head to the 5-iron head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: Brad L Sherwood
  • Patent number: 6830519
    Abstract: A correlated set of iron type golf clubs is designed to improve performance. The set of clubs includes a plurality of iron type golf clubs having linearly spaced lofts such that a first iron type golf club has a loft which is x degrees greater than the loft of a second iron type golf club and the second iron type golf club has a loft which is x degrees greater than a third iron type golf club and subsequent iron type golf clubs increase in loft at the same rate. The plurality of iron type golf clubs also have lengths which are linearly spaced such that a first iron type golf club has a length which is y inches less than the length of the second iron type golf club and the second iron type golf club has a length which is y inches less than the length of the third iron type golf club and subsequent iron type golf clubs decrease in length at the same rate. The set of iron type golf clubs is further designed such that the design efficiency increases as the loft of the golf clubs decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Adams Golf IP, LP
    Inventors: Tim Reed, Michael Vrska, Robert M. Boyd, Byron H. Adams, Oliver G. Brewer, III
  • Publication number: 20040214655
    Abstract: A correlated set of iron type golf clubs is designed to improve performance. The set of clubs includes a plurality of iron type golf clubs having linearly spaced lofts such that a first iron type golf club has a loft which is x degrees greater than the loft of a second iron type golf club and the second iron type golf club has a loft which is x degrees greater than a third iron type golf club and subsequent iron type golf clubs increase in loft at the same rate. The plurality of iron type golf clubs also have lengths which are linearly spaced such that a first iron type golf club has a length which is y inches less than the length of the second iron type golf club and the second iron type golf club has a length which is y inches less than the length of the third iron type golf club and subsequent iron type golf clubs decrease in length at the same rate. The set of iron type golf clubs is further designed such that the design efficiency increases as the loft of the golf clubs decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Tim Reed, Michael Vrska, Robert M. Boyd, Byron H. Adams, Oliver G. Brewer
  • Publication number: 20040192460
    Abstract: The invention includes a golf club iron head, correlated sets of individually numbered golf club irons, methods of matching a golf club to a golfer, and methods of matching a set of golf clubs to a golfer. In one implementation, a golf club iron head includes a front striking face, a sole, a toe, and a heel. The front striking face has a series of grooves of a common cross sectional shape from the top to the bottom. Individual grooves have a base and opposing sidewalls which diverge from the base and extend outwardly in the direction of the front striking face. The sidewalls include opposing protrusions extending into the groove proximate the front striking face. In one implementation, the front striking face of a golf club iron head defines a symmetrical groove cross section. The groove base comprises a protrusion extending in the direction of the front striking face. The base protrusion has an apex received inwardly of the front striking face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: Brad L. Sherwood
  • Publication number: 20040176178
    Abstract: A set of golf club irons with improved vibration damping and weight distribution, each golf club comprising a shaft and a head comprising a body portion having a front portion and a back portion, wherein the body portion defines an upper aperture and a lower aperture extending through the body portion communicating with the front portion and the back portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventor: Christopher B. Best
  • Publication number: 20040157677
    Abstract: A set of golf clubs is characterized by club heads having striking face inserts at least one of which varies in thickness, density, and/or material from the other inserts so that the heads have different centers of gravity. Preferably the long irons in the set have a lower center of gravity (because of thinner or less dense inserts) to increase the trajectory of a struck golf ball. The short irons have a higher center of gravity to reduce the trajectory of a struck golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: The Top-Flite Golf Company
    Inventors: Ryan L. Roach, Steven J. Mahaffey
  • Patent number: 6769994
    Abstract: A shot control hosel is disclosed for customizing golf clubs. The disclosed embodiments of the invention provide a set of hosels, each hosel having a conical body. The body has a central axis, a top portion and a bottom portion. A cylindrical opening extends from the top portion to the bottom portion and is adapted to accommodate a golf club shaft. A flange may be provided on the body and may be adapted to engage a notch within a bore of a golf club head. A resilient barb on the smaller of the top portion and the bottom portion is provided to secure the hosel within the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Golfsmith Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: David D. Boone
  • Patent number: 6733400
    Abstract: The invention includes a golf club iron head, correlated sets of individually numbered golf club irons, methods of matching a golf club to a golfer, and methods of matching a set of golf clubs to a golfer. In one implementation, a golf club iron head includes a front striking face, a sole, a toe, and a heel. The front striking face has a series of grooves of a common cross sectional shape from the top to the bottom. Individual grooves have a base and opposing sidewalls which diverge from the base and extend outwardly in the direction of the front striking face. The sidewalls include opposing protrusions extending into the groove proximate the front striking face. In one implementation, the front striking face of a golf club iron head defines a symmetrical groove cross section. The groove base comprises a protrusion extending in the direction of the front striking face. The base protrusion has an apex received inwardly of the front striking face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: U.I.G., Inc.
    Inventor: Brad L. Sherwood
  • Publication number: 20040053704
    Abstract: An iron style golf club head comprising a substantially perimeter weighted club head, including the interposing of three inserts, a striking face insert, a dampening insert and a back insert. The dampening insert, preferably made of a lead alloy, is interposed between the other inserts, and provides for changes in club swing weight while also providing relief for vibration and acoustical variations. The striking face insert is preferably made from a stainless steel alloy and the back inset is preferably made from a carbon graphite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventor: Peter J. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 6688990
    Abstract: An attractive user-friendly golf putter is provided with a special center weighted housing and side weights to enhance the accuracy, ease and reliability of putting. The side weights are preferably positioned between the center weighted housing and the toe and heel of the golf putter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Robsan Corporation
    Inventor: Robert P. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 6679784
    Abstract: A set of golf clubs, each of the clubs in the set having substantially the same loft angle and each of the clubs in the set has a shaft length that is different from the other clubs in the set. The loft angle is preferably between about 40 and 50 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: George Thomas Mase
  • Publication number: 20030228928
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises a face plate having a back face and a front face forming a club face for hitting a ball; a clubhead main body to which the face plate is attached, the clubhead main body comprising a sole portion and a backside wall portion, the backside wall portion extending upward from the sole portion, leaving a space from said back face; and an insert made of an elastic material and interposed between the back face of the face plate and the backside wall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventor: Masanori Yabu
  • Patent number: 6645085
    Abstract: A golf club or set of golf clubs include a sole having four surfaces: a bottom crescent surface, a positive bounce surface, a heel surface and a toe surface. The bottom crescent surface has a generally straight back boundary approximate the trailing edge and a curved front boundary. Moreover, the bottom crescent surface is substantially flat with the ground when the club addressed by the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Terrill R. McCabe, Philamon W. Rodgers
  • Publication number: 20030203763
    Abstract: A set of golf club irons with improved vibration damping and weight distribution, each golf club comprising a shaft and a head comprising a body portion having a front portion and a back portion, wherein the body portion defines an upper aperture and a lower aperture extending through the body portion communicating with the front portion and the back portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventor: Christopher B. Best
  • Publication number: 20030199331
    Abstract: A golf club head is comprised of cryogenically treated steel resulting in the striking face having a reduced face thickness of between 0.115 inches and 0.130 inches, and therefore, a reduced striking face mass. Extra material which is eliminated from the striking face, is distributed in other areas of the club head to enhance performance. In an iron club head embodiment, the club head includes a heel portion, toe portion, bottom sole portion, top ridge portion, hosel portion, striking face, rear surface, and peripheral mass on the rear surface which forms a rear cavity. A cantilevered mass extends from the bottom sole portion toward the top ridge portion within the rear cavity, spaced apart from the rear surface. In a wood club head embodiment, the club head includes a hollow body having an inner cavity delimited by a sole portion, a striking face, a heel portion, a toe portion, and a crown portion which links the striking face, toe portion, and heel portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventor: John Thomas Stites
  • Publication number: 20030195055
    Abstract: A golf club head and a set of golf clubs that are more forgiving are disclosed herein. The golf club head has an open cavity with an extended bottom wall in order to lower the center of gravity of the club head and to increase the moment of inertia of the club head. The set of golf clubs preferably consists of a driver, a plurality of fairway woods and a plurality of irons, with each of the club heads having a lower center of gravity and increased moment of inertia. Each club head preferably has a moment of inertia of at least 2600 grams centimeter squared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Calllaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Helmstetter, Augustin W. Rollinson, Roger Cleveland, Karl A. Clausen, Deedee Lasker, Larry G. Tang
  • Publication number: 20030195056
    Abstract: In one aspect, a correlated set of individually numbered golf club iron heads progresses from a high numbered head to a low numbered head. Individual heads have a front striking face, a rear face, a sole, a toe, a heel and a hosel. The front striking faces of heads within the set individually have a total planar area defining a progressively decreasing loft angle in going from the high numbered head to the low numbered head. For at least two chosen pairs of heads within the set, the striking face total planar area of individual heads within each chosen pair increases in size in going from the higher numbered head to the lower numbered head in the pair. In another aspect, a correlated set of individually numbered golf club iron heads comprises at least a 3-iron head, a 4-iron head and a 5-iron head. The hosel is provided relative to the sole to provide a different and increasing lie angle in sequentially progressing from the 3-iron head to the 5-iron head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: Brad L. Sherwood
  • Publication number: 20030153397
    Abstract: A set of golf clubs is characterized by club heads having striking face inserts at least one of which varies in thickness, density, and/or material from the other inserts so that the heads have different centers of gravity. Preferably the long irons in the set have a lower center of gravity (because of thinner or less dense inserts) to increase the trajectory of a struck golf ball. The short irons have a higher center of gravity to reduce the trajectory of a struck golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Applicant: Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Roach, Steven J. Mahaffey
  • Publication number: 20030148818
    Abstract: A set of wood golf clubs have wood club heads with substantially the same external shape. The vertical centers of gravity of the wood club heads are varied by setting the weight within the respective soles and the crowns, while keeping the total weight of the wood club heads substantially constant. The wood club heads have no integral hosel. The wood club shafts are attached to the wood club heads by providing a bore in the wood club head sized to receive the wood club shaft therein, and a threaded fastener that engages the wood club shaft to the wood club head, when the wood club shaft is inserted into the bore. The wood club heads are desirably cast to shape, using casting cores that provide for the shifting of weight between the soles and the crowns within the set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Mark C. Myrhum, Mitchell C. Voges
  • Patent number: 6599202
    Abstract: A golf club set comprises at least three golf clubs having different loft angles changing progressively from the smallest loft angle of the lowest numbered golf club to the largest loft angle of the highest numbered golf club. Each of the golf clubs comprises a shaft and a head, the head provided with a hosel having a shaft inserting hole into which the shaft is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6595867
    Abstract: A block putter, usable with either a conventional or sidesaddle putting stance for a right-handed or left-handed golfer, having a head width in the range of about one half to about twice the width of a golf ball. The increased width and potentially increased weight of the putter head improve its performance both on the green and when hitting from the fringe, the fairway, or the rough, or out of the sand. The golfer may use the toe of the putter, rather than one of the faces, to strike the ball, for increased accuracy, especially on short putts. Alternatively, the golfer may putt in a sidesaddle stance with the traditional putter face using a putter having an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft is of such a length as to allow for the end of the shaft to rest on the golfer's shoulder and help stabilize the putt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Feil Golf, LLC
    Inventor: Howard Sosin
  • Publication number: 20030130056
    Abstract: A set of golf clubs, each of the clubs in the set having substantially the same loft angle and each of the clubs in the set has a shaft length that is different from the other clubs in the set. The loft angle is preferably between about 40 and 50 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventor: George Thomas Mase
  • Publication number: 20030114239
    Abstract: A set of golf clubs, each of the clubs in the set having substantially the same loft angle and each of the clubs in the set has a shaft length that is different from the other clubs in the set. The loft angle is preferably between about 40 and 50 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventor: George Thomas Mase
  • Patent number: 6572489
    Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed, which is capable of setting a head center of gravity projected on a face surface in the vicinity of a face center even when a head thickness excluding a face portion is made uniform or a head volume is increased to a maximum. In this golf club head, in a three-dimensional coordinate axis with a face center set as an origin, a coordinate value of each most bulged position in a head body is specified, and a shape of the head body is brought close to that of symmetry in an upper-lower direction and, more preferably, to that of symmetry in upper-lower and right-left directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Miyamoto, Yoh Nishizawa, Masaki Akie